itrike means fewer oads, more lorries
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S A RESULT of the steel strike, too few loads are being chased too many lorries. The only remedy is to reduce the number of rries available by either de-licencing or selling them.
This claim was made by )hn SiIbermann, national 'airman of the Road Haulage ssociation. Addressing the HA North Metropolitan subea he said that the situation suited in cheaper rates.
"During the steel strike imething in excess of 10,000 !hides were laid off by the tter part of February, and at means that hauliers are operting their lorries pro:ably. That in itself is disastius for them as well as for dustry.
"We are not talking about nall numbers, we are talking iout an impact which is not infined to those hauliers who iffy steel. Steel carrying !hides are not engaged on Leir normal work and are lasing other traffic, and the msequence was obvious to reryone in our industry, a trsh, ruthless competition for inadequate amount of ork, with the resultant .vere drop in prices."
Mr Silbermann added that Le problems will still be there hen the strike is over: "We have to look beyond le strike and its immediate ipact, and we must realise [at — unlike last year's lorry rike — this time there is no ild up of traffic waiting to be hauled once the dispute is settled."
Because of the shortage in steel supplies, workers at Foden's Sandbach factory are now working a four-day week and production is down by about 20 per cent. The company says that the four-day week will last at least until the end of the month when the situation will be reviewed.
Apart from Vauxhall, other companies appear to be holding out and although they will not say how long their supplies will last neither Leyland, Ford, ERF, Vauxhall nor Dodge appear to be particularly worried. Production of Vauxhall CF vans is down by about 20 per cent, however.
Leyland Vehicles report that the steel strike has not caused any major problems and that they have been eeking out supplies of steel and have reorganised some production processes and schedules without a drop in output. The company has also obtained steel from alternative sources but would not elaborate further.
Ford, thought to bave had reserve stocks before the strike started, says it •cannot forsee any problems.